‘Meet, Greet & Bye’ REVIEW: When sacrifices speak louder than words
‘Meet, Greet & Bye’ REVIEW: When sacrifices speak louder than words
This review contains minor spoilers.
Mothers know best.
This saying never gets old — just as their sacrifices never do. As this trajectory in the Philippine film industry remains the same, audiences constantly look and yearn for something new.
Meet, Greet & Bye, a new family drama film directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, may not have the intention of bringing something new to the table. However, the film has touched the hearts of many Filipinos who value the softness and purity of a mother’s unconditional love, despite having to make the hardest decisions for their children.
The film revolves around the story of three siblings and their mother. Piolo Pascual plays Tupe, the eldest child who owns a restaurant in L.A. From the beginning of the film, his aura, as the overseas Filipino worker, has heavily influenced his siblings’ perspective of him. This includes arriving late to the graduation of his daughter Geri (Belle Mariano), getting the attention of his mother Baby (Maricel Soriano), or even the simple act of speaking in English in casual conversations.
Brad (Joshua Garcia), Geri (Belle Mariano), Baby (Maricel Soriano), Leo (Juan Karlos Labajo), and Tupe (Piolo Pascual) in Meet, Greet & Bye / Photo courtesy of PhilStar
Joshua Garcia brings Brad’s character to life, almost always having an effective, tear-jerking impact on the audience inside the cinema. The way he cares for his sibling, Geri, and his mother both shape and distort his character in ways that one could imagine. Constantly asking where he went wrong when all he did was sacrifice for his family, standing up as Geri’s second father, and even having to bear the pain of seeing his mother suffer genuinely broke his character.
The contrast between his soft and warm attitude towards his mother and his enforcing these ideas physically has gotten to be one of my favorite metaphors. This intensity is even more apparent in his relationships in the family.
Brad (Joshua Garcia) in Meet, Greet & Bye / Photo courtesy of Philippine Entertainment
Each one of them only wanted their mother to be cured, but the question of “why” and “how” must be answered. “Why do I want my mother to be cured?” “Is it for my own, personal desire and comfort?” “How do I want her to be cured?” “Do I force her to resort to chemotherapy, or do I find alternative ways to help her get better?”
Despite the film’s heaviness, Juan Karlos Labajo’s character, Leo, brings warmth and joy to everyone. His hope and enthusiasm remind Brad and Tupe that decisions are choices that must bear accountability, and seeing their mother in pain was, in fact, a decision they all had to make.
Brad (Joshua Garcia), Tupe (Piolo Pascual), and Leo (Juan Karlos Labajo) in Meet, Greet & Bye / Photo courtesy of ABS CBN
Another thing that people loved is the never-ending heated argument scenes in Filipino family drama films. We’ve seen it in Four Sisters and a Wedding (2013) and Seven Sundays (2017). Being able to throw lines with depth and emotions that certainly hit the spot is always a defining strength in this genre.
Obviously, there is more to say about the pent-up feelings between Tupe and Brad. Knowing whose feelings are “valid” makes this a lingering question for the viewers. The complexity within their dynamics illustrates how years of piled-up silence and resentment can easily shift your relationship with the people around you, even your closest siblings.
Brad (Joshua Garcia), Geri (Belle Mariano), Leo (Juan Karlos Labajo), and Tupe (Piolo Pascual) in Meet, Greet & Bye / Photo courtesy of ABS CBN
With the questions of defining selfishness, sacrifices, and vulnerability, being able to discern forgiveness and courage requires more than just this heated exchange. Tupe and Brad certainly knew that taking a step back – not just for them, but for their mother – was the right thing to do.
Ultimately, Meet, Greet & Bye genuinely adds up to the important discussions of morality, love, and the weight of decisions in our families. When we make the most difficult choices of our lives for our loved ones, it is important to ask, “Is this what they would want, or is it a personal bearing that I’ve only been considering?” Even more so, having the ability to fight for your loved ones through their most difficult times becomes a responsibility that love demands – until when can I say even when I know it hurts?
‘Meet, Greet & Bye’ is now showing in Philippine cinemas.
